Jaguar XJR-9
| Jaguar XJR-9 | |
|---|---|
 The 198824 hours of Le Manswinning XJR-9 on display at the British Motor Museum | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Production | 1988–1989 |
| Assembly | United Kingdom:Kidlington,Oxfordshire |
| Designer | Tony SouthgateforTWR[1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Racing car |
| Body style | 2-doorCoupé |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 6.0 L 60 degreeJaguarV12(IMSA) 7.0 L 60 degreeJaguarV12(WSPC) |
| Transmission | 5-speedmanual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,780 mm (109.4 in)[1][2] |
| Length | 4,780 mm (188.2 in) |
| Width | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) |
| Height | 1,100 mm (43.3 in) |
| Kerb weight | 880 kg (1,940 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Jaguar XJR-8 |
| Successor |
|
TheJaguar XJR-9is asports-prototyperace carbuilt byJaguarfor bothFIAGroup CandIMSACamel GTPracing. In 1988, Jaguar's XJR-9 won the24 Hours of Le Mans,after debuting that year at the24 Hours of Daytona.
Development
[edit]An evolution of the design for theXJR-8,the XJR-9 was designed byTony Southgate,built byTom Walkinshaw Racing(TWR) and featured a Jaguar 7.0-litreV12 enginebased on the production 5.3-litre engine as used in theJaguar XJSroad car.[3]A variant of the XJR-9, the XJR-9LM, would be developed specifically for the24 Hours of Le Manswhere the requirement for high straight line speeds on theMulsanne Straightnecessitated a low-drag aerodynamic package.
History
[edit]
In the United States, theCastrolsponsored XJR-9s debuted at the24 Hours of Daytona,with the car taking the overall win. However, throughout the rest of the IMSA Camel GTP season the XJR-9 was unable to gain another win until the final race of the season, meaning the team had to settle for third in the constructor's championship. In the1988 World Sports Prototype Championship,the XJR-9, runningSilk Cutsponsorship, met with more success. The XJR-9 was able to take six victories, including the24 Hours of Le Mans,over the eleven race series. Silk Cut Jaguar won the Teams Championship and Jaguar driverMartin Brundlewon the Drivers title. Jaguar's success at Le Mans marked the first time since 1980 that Porsche had not won Le Mans, and the first Le Mans victory for Jaguar since1957.
For 1989, the XJR-9 was again entered in bothIMSACamel GTP and theWorld Sports Prototype Championship.However, the XJR-9 was by now dated, and in IMSA was being repeatedly beaten byNissan,leaving the XJR-9 with only a single win on the season. This led to Jaguar introducing theXJR-10midway through the season, which met with slightly better success having two wins on the season and usually placing higher than the XJR-9 it ran with. At the end of the season, Jaguar finished 2nd in the championship.
A similar story occurred in the1989 World Sports Prototype Championship,with Jaguar not winning a single race during the series. Midway through the championship, theXJR-11was developed to replace the XJR-9, although both finished out the season. This disappointment led to Jaguar finishing fourth in the Teams Championship.
Within months of Jaguar's 1988 Le Mans victory, TWR would use the XJR-9 chassis for the development of the R9R prototype which by 1990 had evolved into theXJR-15sports car andspec-racer.
In 2010, the car won theLe Mans Legendrace.
Specifications
[edit]Engine
- Type: 60 degree SOHC 24 valveV12
- Position: Mid, Longitudinally mounted
- Displacement: 6,995 cc (427 cu in) (World Sports Prototype Championship)
- 5,996 cc (366 cu in) (IMSA GTP)
- Bore: 94 mm (3.7 in)
- Stroke: 84 mm (3.3 in)
- Compression: 12:1
- Injection: Zytek fuel injection
- Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
- Power: 750 hp (760 PS; 559 kW) at 7,200 rpm
- Torque: 828 N⋅m (611 lb⋅ft) at 5,500 rpm
Drivetrain
- Body: Carbon Composite body
- Chassis:Carbon fibreandKevlarmonocoque
- Front Suspension: Double wishbones, push-rod activated coil springs over dampers
- Rear Suspension:Magnesiumuprights,titaniumcoil springs over dampers
- Steering: Rack and pinion power steering
- Brakes: TWR ventilated discs
- Transmission: March/TWR 5-speedmanual transmission
- Layout: Rear-wheel drive
Performance figures
- Power to weight ratio: 0.85bhp/kg
- Top speed: 245 mph (394 km/h)
Gallery
[edit]
See also
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Bamsey, Ian (1989).Jaguar XJR Group C and GTP Cars.G T Foulis.ISBN0854297529.
- Thurston, Leslie F. (2003).TWR Jaguar Prototype Racers.Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.ISBN978-0954103910.
- Cotton, Michael (2017).Jaguar XJR-9 Owners Workshop Manual.J.H. Haynes.ISBN978-1785211133.
References
[edit]- ^abMelissen, Wouter (7 November 2014)."1988 Jaguar XJR-9 LM - Images, Specifications and Information".Ultimatecarpage.com.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2018.Retrieved14 August2019.
- ^"Jaguar XJR-9LM".Supercars.net.1 March 2016.Retrieved14 August2019.
- ^Culmer, Kris (15 June 2017)."Throwback Thursday: Driving the 1988 Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9".The Autocar.Retrieved25 February2021.
External links
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